LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15, 2025 — Federal authorities have dismantled a planned coordinated bombing attack targeting Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve, arresting four suspects and seizing bomb-making materials at a desert campsite, according to official statements and law enforcement sources.
The FBI says the suspects, allegedly members of a radical extremist group identified as an offshoot of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF), were preparing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) intended for five separate locations across Los Angeles and Southern California during New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Bomb Materials and Evidence Found
Court documents and law enforcement sources reveal photos showing a campsite in the desert — believed to be used by the suspects — where bomb-making components were scattered across tables and the ground. Investigators reported finding raw materials that could be combined into functioning devices, including various sizes of PVC pipe, potassium nitrate, sulfur powder, charcoal, and fuse components.
The material evidence was a key part of the criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors, underscoring how far the plotters had apparently progressed in their planning.
Suspects and Charges
Officials identified the four suspects arrested in Southern California as:
- Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30
- Zachary Aaron Page, 32
- Dante Gaffield, 24
- Tina Lai, 41
All four are from the Los Angeles area and have been charged with conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device, federal prosecutors said. More charges are expected as the investigation continues.
Authorities say the suspects were taken into custody as they were attempting to test explosive devices in a remote desert area east of Los Angeles. Surveillance footage and encrypted app evidence are also part of the case.
Extremist Group and Possible Motivations
The FBI and Department of Justice describe the group as an anti-government, anti-capitalist cell tied to the broader Turtle Island Liberation Front, a far-left movement with a pro-Palestinian orientation. Officials say the ideology operated in part through encrypted communications, including a chat group known as “Order of the Black Lotus,” where planning was coordinated.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement that the plotters intended to strike not only public targets but also government entities, including immigration enforcement agents and facilities — though specific target names have not been publicly released by investigators pending ongoing security assessments.
Additional Arrests and Broader Response
In a related development, authorities in New Orleans arrested a fifth individual believed to be linked to the network on similar violent attack allegations, part of a broader probe into planned extremist activity.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised the agency’s work in disrupting what he characterized as a “credible, imminent terrorist threat,” and emphasized the importance of interagency coordination in averting a major attack.
Public Safety and Ongoing Investigation
Federal officials have not indicated that the broader public remains at risk at this time, saying that swift action by law enforcement neutralized the threat before New Year’s Eve festivities. The investigation, however, remains active, with prosecutors reviewing additional evidence and preparing for further legal action.
